"Most of the destruction caused in the book,
and throughout the series, is based on
something Misfit really did." |
|
Q: What made you decide on a bookstore café?
A: I’ve always said I’d like to open a bookstore with a little coffee shop attached if ever I were to start my own business. I surround myself with books normally, so it seemed like a natural step. Now, I haven’t done it myself, but when coming up with the idea for Death by Coffee, it was the very first job I thought of for Krissy.
Q: You’re a cat owner. What role did your own cats have in developing the two felines in the novel?
A: Both Trouble and Misfit were ripped straight from my life. Trouble isn’t nearly as bad as his namesake, but Misfit could be an outright terror when he wanted to be. Most of the destruction caused in the book, and throughout the series, is based on something Misfit really did. And while some people might wonder why we would ever keep such a temperamental animal, we never once considered getting rid of him. He was our baby. He could be loveable when he wanted to be, though it was often on his own terms. Sadly, he passed away from oral cancer well before the book was written, but now, his spirit lives on!
Q: What was the hardest thing about writing Death by Coffee?
A: This was my first ever attempt at a mystery, let alone a cozy mystery. I was afraid I’d go into it and completely screw it up, but when I sat down to write, the story flowed pretty easily. Is it perfect? Nah. No book is perfect. But once I got past the self-doubt and fear of messing up, I realized I could do it. As the series goes on, I’m sure I’ll get more confident in what I’m doing and each and every volume will be better than the last.
Q: Any advice for budding authors?
A: Try new things. I’ve seen many fledgling writers struggle because they insist they are one type of writer, be it YA, or a fantasy author, or whatever it may be. They keep trying the same thing over and over, and often never finish what they are working on. I highly recommend setting what you think you are aside and do what your heart tells you, or perhaps try something completely new, something you never thought you’d be able to pull off. Instead of a YA author, perhaps you are a better romance author. Don’t pigeonhole yourself into being one thing. Explore. Have fun! You might learn something about yourself. |